On Saturday (May 24), Shubman Gill was named the new captain of India’s Test team. The batter who occupies the number 3 spot, was considered the leading candidate for the role following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket. His appointment was officially announced at a press conference, where the selectors also revealed the squad for the upcoming England tour.
While the selection committee ultimately made the decision to appoint Shubman as captain, former India head coach Rahul Dravid played a major role in the process. According to Hindustan Times, Dravid was instrumental in backing Shubman’s elevation to the captaincy.
According to the report, the selectors had a conversation with the former India head coach. “The selectors reached out to Dravid, who had worked with Gill both as a teenager and later at the U19 and senior levels. He shared positive feedback about Gill’s leadership potential,” a BCCI source informed HT.
Dravid had identified Shubman’s talent early in his career. The young batter contributed significantly to India’s victory in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, where he served as Prithvi Shaw’s deputy.
After the World Cup, Shubman earned his place in the national team a year later. He became a regular member of the squad under Dravid’s leadership as head coach. According to PTI, Dravid had specifically recommended Shubman’s inclusion in the India A squad for the 2018 England tour. With Dravid’s continued support, Shubman’s promotion to captain is hardly unexpected.
Rishabh Pant, who also impressed Dravid early in his career, will support Shubman as vice-captain. Rishabh was a part of the India U-19 team under Dravid’s coaching, which reached the final of the 2016 World Cup. The India-England series will begin on June 20.
